Pressed-brick machine



8 Sheets--Sheen l. Z. VANIEB.. Pressed-Brick Machine.

No. 223,617. Patented'lan.13,'1880,

"illlliillllllllm A. i

3 Sheets-Sheet; 2.

Z. VANIER. Pressed-Brick Machine.

No. 223,617. Patented 1an. 13, 188.0.

Fig. lA

Zfnvemto r: I

N.FETERS. PHOTGUTMOGRAPMER WASHlNG'YON. Dv C.

8 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Z. VANIBR. Pressed-Brick Machine.

Patented Jan. 13, 1880.

i IINHHIIIIIHHHIIIHI www@ N PETERS. PMOT0-L|THOGRAPHER, wASmNBYON. D C,

UNITED STATES .PATENT OFFICE.

ZPHIRIN VANIER, OF WESTBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS.

PREssED-BRIGK MACHINE.

SPQIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 223,617, dated January 13,1880. Appncanon sled November s, 1879.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, ZPHIRIN VANIER, of Westborough, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pressed -Brick Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to brick-machines of that class in which the bricks are formed by pressure in molds arranged within a horizontal revolving table. the clay heilig fed t0 the molds by a pug-mill and pressed in said molds, and then discharged and removed therefrom. It is an improvement on the machine shown in patent granted me on the 27th. day of November, 1877, and numbered 197,576; and it consists of improved details of construction, whereby the machine is' made more simple and effective in its operation. These details are hereinafter fully set forth, and are particularly indicated in the claims.

In the drawings hereunto attached, and forming part of this specification, Figure l is a perspective view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, showing the main drivingwheel, the pug-mill, and the apparatus for driving the same, certain parts being broken away to disclose theinterior mechanism. Fig. 3 is a partial section on line x .r of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the revolving table, with the surface in part removed to show the means for giving intermittent rotary inotion to said table. Fig. 5 is a top view of the machine, and Fig. 6 a section on line y y of Fig. 5, Fig. 7 being a detailed view of the plunger.

In these drawings, A represents a substantial frame or support for the revolving table, and B a similar frame for the driving and compressing apparatus.

Gentrally upon the frame A is located the table C, which is supported upon the shaft a, stepped in a suitable socket at b, and having its upper bearing in the frame-work d. The

table is fixed to the shaft a, and is supported by it. Within this table, arranged at regular, intervals, are the pockets e, (here represented asin sets of four,) each side' being adapted to be lled with the clay from the pug-mill at one operation, to receive the pressure at another, and to be discharged by a thirdoperation of the machine, whereby four bricks are made at each stroke.

The table is formed with radially-arranged grooves f upon its under surface, and located midway between adjacent sets of molds. For

connection with `these grooves, and to give proper intermittent motion to the table, a wheel, D, is journaled horizontally upon the frame B, its center being just outside the periphery of the table C.

The shaft g of the wheel D'is prolonged, as shown in-Fig. 6, and has fixed upoli it a beveled gear, E, meshing into a similar beveled gear, H.

In the wheel D is set a pin, i, .with frictionroller, adjusted in the slot so as to bring'it in the revolution ot' the wheel directly into the outer opening ofthe groove f.

The wheel revolves in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 4, and lies close underneath the table G, so that the pin i, which projects` up just far enough to move in the groove f, bears in its motion against the left-hand wall of the groove, and presses it to the left until the said table is turned a distance equal to the space between the sets of molds, measured from center to center-or, in other words, to bring any given set of molds underneath that part of the mechanism which is to operate in connection therewith. After the pin emerges from the said groove, and during that part of the revolution of the wheel D while the pin t is moving from the point of its exit from lthe groove to that point where it again enters the next succeeding groove, the table remains' stationary. Thus, while the motion of the wheel D is constant and uniform, it imparts a delinite intermittent motion with a smooth start and stop to the table 0, adjusted, as aforesaid, to bring each set of molds into proper position for the action of the pug-mill, or the pressinglevers, or the discharging devices, and to leave them in such position until said devices perform their proper function.

Shown at F, Figs. 2 and 3, is a pug-mill of ordinary construction,'(with a set of openings corresponding in size and shape to the forms of the molds,) having a shaft, G, both supported in the frame-Work, the shaft being provided with-inclined feeding-blades and stirrers.

IOO

On the shaft G is a beveled gear, driven by another corresponding gear on the end of the inclined shaft H', which derives its motion through thebeveled gear j and lo from the main driving-shaft of the machine. The beveled gear j is connected with the shaft H through an intermediate spring, I., whereby the shaft G in the mill is allowed to yield in case it meets with any unusual obstruction in its work. and in order that it may operate upon the clay with a yielding pressure.

The pug-mill, as before described, discharges through the openings in its bottom into a set of molds, e, which are brought by the intermittent motion of the table G, moving in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 4, and by means of wheel D, directly underneath the said pugmill, and left there long enough to be lled while the pin i is performing that part of its revolution outside of the table C, A space is left between the bottom of the pug-mill and the upper surface of the table C sufficient to allow the blade I to pass between said mill and table. This blade is moved at intervals by mechanism hereinafter described, being timed in its motion so as to cut off the clay from the molds as soon as they are filled. This blade remains underneath the mill until the table is turned sufficiently to carry the set of molds away from beneath the mill, when the blade is withdrawn. The molds pass on in step-by-step movement until they reach the Joint J, where they receive the pressure, and then still farther to the point 7c, where the pressed bricks are discharged.

The discharging mechanism censists of a plunger. (Shown more clearly at L in Fig. 3.) lt is provided with four blocks tted in size and arrangement to the four molds of the sets. It slides in vertical guides in the fra-me M with a part of the general frame-work of the machine.

The plunger L has avertie-al shaft, m, which passes through an opening in the frame M, and is provided with a springbearin g between the upper surface of the frame and a pin in the upper part of the shaft m, the action cf the spring tending to keep the plunger raised cnt of the molds and free from the upper surface of the table.

A cam, n, 011 the shaft N, workingI against a friction-roller within the plunger, is arranged to depress the said plunger at the proper moment, when a set of molds containing the pressed bricks is brought around and arrested beneath it. This shaft N iscarried in suitable bearings, and has upon one end the gear-wheel o, which drives the wheel D, and upon the other end a gearp,4 by means of which it receives motion from the secondary' shaft g.

The bricks pushed from the molds outward by the action of the cam are received upon an endless band, O, Fig. 3, lwhich passes over drums O O2, and is driven by means of a band from the wheel P on the shaft a.

The apparatus is adjusted to give the endoperating devices are at work.

Y machine.

less band motion, carrying the upper part outward.

Underneath the upper part of the endless band is a lifting-arm, r, Fig. 3, which moves in contact with the inner surface of the frame, and carries a section, s, of the frame which supports the drums of the endless belt. The outer part, s', of this frame is fixed to the frame of the machine, and remains stationary; but the part s is adapted to be lifted by the arm r, so as to bring the endless band O up against the under surface of the table C. This motion is produced by means of a vertical part, r', of the arm r, which Vhas a pin working in a camgroove in the disk Q upon the. shaft N, Fig. 1. The vertical movement of this arm and the band which it carries is so timed that the band islifted to receive the bricks as they are pressed out by the plunger, and is lowered withthem. As this band O is driven from the shaft a of the table C, it will be apparent that the motion of the band is intermittent and corresponds exactly with that of the table. The band,as it rises, is arrested in its longitudinal movement at'the same time that the table is arrested to allow the bricks to be pushed from the molds, and starts with the table to move the bricks outward from the machine. In this connection and upon Fig. 1 will be observed an arm, t, pivoted at 1, and provided with a stud, 2, locking into the radial grooves f ofthe table C, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4.

The arm t has a pin with friction-roller,which works in another cam-groove in the face of the wheel Q opposite that first described.

The shape of the cam last described and the adjustnlent of the arm t and the stud 2 are such that the said stud is lifted rat the instant when the molds e are directly underneath the operating devices for filling, pressing, and emptying 5 and, further, the stud 2 is so located as to enter the groove f and hold the table U securely locked at the instant when the said It is then depressed, and the pin z' upon the wheel D enters the preceding groove and gives the table G another ,partial rotation.- y l The mechanism for compressing the bricks is shown in Fig. 1, and more clearly in Fig. 6. It consists of a pair of walking-beams, R R', mounted on shafts 3 3, which have their bearings in parts of the frame B. These beams receive intermittent motion simultaneously by means of pivoted bars u u, which are acted upon by eccentrics 4L and 5 on the main shaft S. These pivoted bars are connected by pitmen 6 6 to arms 7 7, Fig. (j, on the rock-shaft c. This rock-shaft is provided, as shown in Fig. 2, with an arm, 8, iixed upon the end thereofl next the driving-wheel, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The arm S is connected by a bar, 9, to a lever, T, havingits fulcrum on the bearing l0, fixed to the main frame of the The upper end of this lever T is provided with flanges l1 12, which form a curved groove, 13'. The flange 11 projects IOO IOS

IIO

IZO

downwardly beyond the flange 12, and receives the impact of the stud 14, which is fixed upon the inside of the wheel U. This wheel U is carried upon the shaft q, which extends through bearings in the standard which supports the Lipper walking-beam, and through `a slot inthe web of the walking-beam itself. It carries on the opposite end the beveled gear which drives the shaft N. The cog-wheel U receives its motion from the pinion w, which'is fixed on the shaft of the main driving-wheel V, and has, therefore, motion in a direction opposite to that of the main wheel. In4 the construction `shown the wheel U revolves with onethird of the speed of the wheel V. The arrangement of the parts is such that when the pin 14 leaves the channel 13 of the lever T, by reason of the forward curve of the said.

channel, said lever is drawn back, which throws the parts into the position shown in Fig. 2- that is to say, the pivoted bars u u are thrown, the upper one outward and the lower inward, so that the eccentrics on the shaft S pass without contact with said bars, and consequently Without operating upon the walking-beams. When, however, the pin 14 in the revolution ofthe wheel U has arrived at the point where it comes in contact with the lower extension of theiian ge 11, it throws forward the upper end of the lever T, which, operating through its arm 9, crank S, rock-shaft fu, and other connections upon the bars u u, turns them toward the shaft S in such position that the cams can operate upon them, thereby lifting the rear end of the upper walking-beam and depressing the vrear end of the lower, and causing the forward ends to approach each other and press upon the clay in the molds, which, by the adjustmentof al1 the parts, are brought at the instant into position to receive the approaching plungers on the ends of the walkin gbeams. The channel 13 is in proper shape to give the required motion to hold the bars u u in position long enough to receive the required motion from the main shaft S. Then the upper end, as before described, causes the pin to draw back the lever and throw out the bars u u.

The eccentric 5 on the shaft S is formed with a slight transverse depression on its face to receive the corner of the upper bar, u, on which it acts.

The walking-beams R R are thrown apart at the forward end, after the pressure is impartedto the bricks, by means of devices shown more clearly in Fig. 6. These devices `consist, first, of a lever, y', xed centrally on the beam R, and another lever, y, fixed to the beam It. The upper part of y is formed with an offset, as shown at 16,'the lever above the offset being bent aside so as to pass the lower part of the beam R and stand near one side. It is there operated upon by the cam z, which is on the shaft 15 of the wheel Q. The cam is so shaped and arranged that in the motion of the said wheel, as soon as the pressure has been applied, it moves the upper end of the 'pressed back iiush with said face.

lever y' inwardly, thus depressing the forward end of the beam It at the same time the offset 16 on the lever y moves the lever yin the same manner and with the same effect upon the beam R. By this mechanism the pressing-plungers on the forward end of the walking-beams are separated from the revolving table, and held apart during its motion, and then allowed to be forced together to impart the necessary pressure upon' the clay within the molds.

On the wheel U is a stud, 17, which acts upon the shoulder 18 of the sliding-bar W, which carries the blade I. The effect of this stud is to drive forward ,the said blade at the proper time to cut off the clay from the molds, and. the stud is properly located upon the wheel U for this purpose. An inclined ange, 19,is fixed upon the inside of the wheel V in proper position to act upon a shoulder, 20, on the bar W for the purposefof drawing' back the bladeI at the proper time.

It will be observed that the-compressingplungers act in opposite directions to press the clay within the molds upon both sides alike.

In order to hold the clay securely in place after the molds leave the pug-inill a plate, 2l, is extended around underneath the line of the molds from thepug-mill to the compressingplungers,includin g both. Beingperforated to admit the lower plunger where the clay is be-r ing compressed, no further support of this kind is needed.

The compressing-plungers m x' are shown in section in Fig. 6. They are connected to the walking-beams by pitmen 22 22, and move in guides supported on the' main frame. per plungeris shown more clearly detached in Fig. 7. lt consists of a solid block,X, having four projections, z', fitted in size and shape exactly to the molds e e, and with openings between to discharge the air from the bricks.

The projections or plungers z are recessed to receive small pistons 23, proportioned in cross-sections the same as the plungers z", in which they are fitted. upon springs adjusted by set-screws 24 s by means of which they are made toproject beyond the face of the plungers z', but may be These plungers or pistons serve the purpose of pushing the clay outward before it is pressed, so as to ll the edges and corners and to make the brick of more even density.

The lower plunger is formed with four small plungers, fitted like those first described, but without the spring-pistons.

The general construction` of `the fra-me is more solid and simple, as are the moving parts, and all are less liable to get out of order than the old form of machines; also, the strain and wear are reduced to a minimum. The filling, pressing, and discharging being done simulta- These plungers 23 rest IOO IIO

IIS

izo

neously, the machine can work more rapidly.

The device for starting is such that there is no njar in stopping or starting, and the locking device holds the table securely for the operetions performed when the table is at rest.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The combination ot' the plunger L and the endless band O, having` the described eonnection With the shaft of the revolving table, whereby it has intermittent motion in connection therewith, is set forth.

2. In combination with the plunger L, the endless band 0, hanving;` a, fixed drum, O', and the movable drum O2, adapted to be lifted and depressed in connection with said plunger, as set forth.

3. The combination of the lifting-traine r o" the oem-wheel Q, and the shaft N, as set forth.

4. The combination of the arm t, stud 2, and cam-wheel Q, as set forth.

5. The combination, with the pug-mill F and the revolving table C', ofthe blade I operated in connection therewith, as set forth.

6. The combination, with the pugmill, of the shaft H an d the connecting beveled gears, with the beveled gearj and spring Z, as set forth.

7.'In combination with the \v2tlkingbeems R R', the levers yy' and the 'cem z, as setforth.

8. The combination, with the bar W, havinzg` the offset 1 8, of the stud 17 on the wheel U, as set forth.

9. The combination of the inclined Harige 19 and the notch 20 on the ber W, as set forth.

10. The combination of the blocks X, the plungers, the piston 23,'2ind the springs, as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof' I have signed my naine to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. ZPHIRlN VANIER.

Witnesses:

LoUIs K. TRAvIs, W. TROWBRIDGE FORBES. 

